Truly topmost

The newly-formed Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction (MoPR) has said government property worth Rs 5,110 million was destroyed during the ten-year long conflict and that it would take at least three years to rebuild the damaged infrastructure. According to the statistics, the Home Ministry suffered the biggest loss (Rs 2,428.6 million) as police stations and administrative buildings were the main targets during the insurgency. The MoPR along with the National Planning Commission and the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works is now preparing the cost estimates for the reconstruction job.Now that the country has a separate ministry for reconstruction, it can be expected that all rebuilding works would be completed within the stipulated time period. And, for this, the government is preparing to hike the national budget. Donor agencies and nations have so far committed aid to the tune of Rs 320 million to the Peace Fund created for this purpose. The ADB, too, under its Rural Infrastructure Peace and Rehabilitation Programme, has pledged financial support for reconstruction of the damaged rural infrastructure. Unfortunately, however, vandalism and destruction of public and private property worth millions is taking place in the country even today. No reconstruction and rehabilitation work can kick off in a hostile environment and amid ongoing violence. So, establishing a truly lasting peace should be the topmost priority of all the political forces in the country.

Source: The Himalayan Times, May 17, 2007